The Manhattan Theatre Club production marks the world premiere of the work, with book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner Shanley (Doubt, "Moonstruck") and music by Krieger (Dreamgirls, Side Show). Shanley directs. The cast boasts the talents of Jeb Brown (Grease, Ring of Fire), Jerry Dixon (tick, tick… BOOM!; Once On This Island), Ivan Hernandez (Zhivago, The Fantasticks), Mark Linn-Baker (Almost An Evening, "Perfect Strangers"), Patina Renea Miller (Hair, "All My Children") and Emily Swallow (High Fidelity).

MTC press notes describe the show as such: "From the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Doubt and the two-time Tony-nominated composer of Dreamgirls comes this crackpot musical romance. Connie of Woodmere has just married Fred of Newark, but her exes are back in the picture and not sure they approve of the union. Mary of Greenpoint climbs Frankie of Little Italy's fire escape with amorous erotic intent — but things go awry as she reaches for her dream."

Romantic Poetry will perform at City Center Stage I at 131 West 55th Street. Tickets are currently on sale through Dec. 14.

For further information call (212) 581-1212 or visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

Here is a look at a Sept. 17 rehearsal held at MTC's Rehearsal Studios on West 43rd Street:

Henry Krieger and John Patrick Shanley

The cast rehearses

From left: Jeb Brown, Jerry Dixon, Patina Renea Miller and Ivan Hernandez

From left: Mark Linn-Baker, Ivan Hernandez, Emily Swallow and Jeb Brown

Jeb Brown (foreground) with Patina Renea Miller and Ivan Hernandez

Jeb Brown and Mark Linn-Baker

The Cast (from left): Mark Linn-Baker, Jeb Brown, Ivan Hernandez, Emily Swallow, Patina Renea Miller and Jerry Dixon

Henry Krieger and John Patrick Shanley (center) with the cast of Romantic Poetry